NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Defect Petition DP10-001: Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition DP10-001 on January 7, 2010 and closed it on May 23, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 13 models from 4 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- DP10-001 (also written DP10001)
- Investigation type
- Defect Petition A petition asking NHTSA to open a defect investigation; NHTSA grants or denies it, and granting one opens an investigation.
- Status
- Closed May 23, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Components
- Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other — Storage — Fuel Gauge System
- Vehicles and equipment
- 13 models from 4 makes, including the Buick Rainier and Chevrolet Trailblazer
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Defect Petition DP10-001.
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.
Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.
Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.
Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.
A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Defect Petition DP10-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Buick
All Buick recallsChevrolet
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet Trailblazer 360
- 2005, 2006, 2007
Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT
Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370
- 2005, 2006
GMC
GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy 360
- 2005, 2006, 2007
GMC Envoy Denali
- 2006
GMC Envoy Denali XL
- 2006
GMC Envoy XL
GMC Envoy XL 370
- 2005, 2006
GMC Envoy XUV
Saab
All Saab recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for DP10-001
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.